Color palettes - what can they bring to the table?
The aesthetic of your garden encompasses so many things. It touches on texture, arrangement of plants, fragrances, the pollinators you attract, the height of varying plants, and even the sounds you get with a gentle breeze whispering through the trees and caressing the grasses. Color is another obvious and important part of your garden’s ambiance. And everyone has different preferences. It depends on what you personally find comforting, beautiful and functional.
We’ve organized other posts about which plants bloom at different times, planting colors by season and how to arrange your plants.
Here, we’ve put together some potential color palettes for your garden with examples of plants that can make your entire space feel put together. Not everyone wants bold, bright colors, nor does everyone desire subtle pastels. It’s all up to you! Consider what you already have in your garden and how you might be able to complement it with some of our color palettes.
Bold, but not too bold
Color Palette #1
Consider bold, warm colors that aren’t necessarily bright. Purple reed grass provides a nice depth of color, while cranesbill or lilacs balance it out with brightness. This color palette balances neutral colors with pinks and purples.
muted & deep
Color Palette #2
So many of your plants are already varying shades of green on the stems. You can capitalize on that by including other plants like coleus that add in a splash of purplish red on the leaves. Find some plants with a dusty pink color and a deep purple to round out this set.
warm greens anyone?
Color Palette #3
Choosing plants like gay butterfly brings in some warmer shades of green in the stems. Some currant varietals begin with a light yellowish-green color, then ripen into a bright red to match the zinnia.
every shade of purple
Color Palette #4
This color palette does not shy away from the pastels, pinks and purples! There are so many plants that can be added to this set, such as salvia, lupine or crocus to create a garden that brings together every shade of purple that you can think of. Willy Wonka would be proud in his velvet purple suit.
Bringing in the grays
Color Palette #5
Cooler, gray and purple tones can create a harmonized ambiance in your garden. A dusty miller is a great silvery addition. Throw in purple and white columbine in there with your light colored plants such as alyssum or sweet woodruff.
Woodsy & Fiery
Color Palette #6
Woodsy tones can really create a feeling of warmth coming from your landscape. Don’t forget elements like mulch and rock add to the color of your garden. Consider the different shades of your base materials and how they can round out your bold colors with some of your softer ones.
Pastels with depth
Color Palette #7
Soft, soothing colors such as light pinks and greys can make your landscape feel cohesive and calm. There are many spring flowering trees that come in varying shades of white and pink.
Warm Varietals
Color Palette #8
Not into pastels? This medium color palette brings out the strength of each color without being either underwhelming or overwhelming. The pinks are balanced out by yellows and oranges. Consider black eyed susans, Colorado gold gazanias or daylilies.
Bright & In your face
Color Palette #9
Don’t forget the trees! both deciduous and coniferous trees can add splashes of bold colors. Brighter flowers like dahlias and poppies can make your landscape feel alive and thriving. Petunias also come in a variety of colors so you can keep your landscape spiced up!
complementary my dear
Color Palette #10
Blues and oranges are complementary colors. Your initial thought might be the outstanding brightness of the Broncos logo, but softer tones create lovely pairings. Some of these examples also provide interesting textures to keep a nice variety in your garden.
Whether you’ve just begun your gardening journey or you’re looking to re-vamp that backyard, hopefully these color palettes have given you a good start to creating a space that you love every aspect of. Reach out when you’re ready to have a designer build your dream landscape for you. You can always hop on our Pinterest page for more ideas.
